RED BANK – VNA Health Group has announced that it has received more than $200,000 in contributions to support its patients and families in response to the VNA Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

Contributions have come from a variety of sources including foundations and organizations both in and out of state, as well as generous individuals and VNA Health Group employees.

The largest contribution was received through a grant from the Robin Hood Foundation totaling $110,000 to provide nursing, medical social work services and care management to low income and medically frail individuals in need of health screenings and grief counseling. In addition funds will also be used to provide free flu immunizations and to replace lifeline-monitoring units destroyed in the storm.

“During the storm, VNA Health Group staff provided more than 1,000 hours of service to care for residents evacuated to area shelters and continued to ensure the safety of more than three thousand patients in their homes. Many were without medications, clothing and food. Many lost more than power – they lost their homes,” said Steven Landers, MD, VNA Health Group president and CEO. “We have always felt fortunate to be supported by such a generous community but we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from people near and far.”

Contributions were also made by organizations including Meritus Health Care Foundation, a Maryland-based group that delivered more than 130 boxes of clothing and supplies in a 27-foot truck and the employees of Inova Health System in Northern Virginia who designated employee contributions in excess of $7,500. Other donations came from Homecare Homebase, Washington County Hospital, Hutchkis+Wiley Capital Man­age­­ment, Metallix Refining, Chubbston, Concord Regional VNA, Bristol Hospice in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Horizon Group and the VNA of Boston.

A VNA Health Group partner, Stevens Institute of Technology, arranged for assistance from several of these groups including their own staff, and provided student assistance for the disbursement of goods.

VNA Health Group employees gave generously as well, giving cash gifts and more than 440 vacation days valued at over $16,000 to assist VNA employees who had serious damage to or loss of their homes.

In addition, VNA Health Group contributed a portion of funds to relief efforts from two of their annual holiday events that typically benefit the VNA hospice program Families affected by the storm were also included in VNA Health Group’s Seasons of Hope pro­gram. The annual holiday adopt-a-family program donated food, clothing and toys during the holidays to more than 600 extremely challenged families and children.

“Our thanks also go out to our incredible staff,” Landers added. “We have some amazing stories of their heroic efforts during the storm from a nurse delivering a baby on the streets of Newark; another walking 5 miles after running out of gas to see her patients; to another spending more than ninety hours at shelters. They continue to display an unwavering commitment to the people of New Jersey.”